Livingston County Naturalization Applications 1857 - 1858

A person became a naturalized citizen of the United States after having first filed his intention to do so and disavowing all allegiance to a foreign power. In Kentucky, the intention was filed in county or circuit court and recorded in the court order books (court minutes).  The information in the declarations may vary, but usually includes the name of the person, when he filed his petition for naturalization, and to whom he formerly vowed allegiance. The following naturalization intentions are abstracted from Livingston Court Circuit Court Order Book O.

This day came  Henry Staub in action and made oath in open Court that he came to the United States on or about the 20th day of April AD 1854, from the Canton of Zurick [sic] in the Republic of Switzerland, and it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince Potentate State or Sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to the Canton of Zurick, and the Republic of Switzerland whereof he is a citizen. [signed] Henry Staub. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 354, 5 Jan 1857]  Henry Staub appeared in Court and produced a certificate showing that he had on the 6th day of January 1857 in Livingston Circuit Court made the necessary declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States and having declared on oath he will support the constitution of the U.S. that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce  allegiance to any foreign Prince Potentate State of Sovereignty and particularly the Republic of Switzerland whereof he was heretofore a citizen and having produced to the Court satisfactory evidence of his having resided in the U.S.  five years at least and in this state one year at least and that during that time he has behaved as a man of good moral character ... Henry Staub is hereby admitted and declared to be a citizen of the United States.   [Livingston County Court Order Book M, p. 25, 3 Sep 1860]

This day came H.P. Dickson an alien who made oath in open Court  ... that he came to the United States on or about the 8th day of August 1855 from Denmark, that was bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance to any foreign Prince  Potentate  State or Sovereignty whatsoever and particularly Frederick  7th King of Denmark whereof he is a subject. [Livingston Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 361, 7 Jan 1857]

Antones Spinner an alien appeared in Court and made the following deposition of his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He came to the United States on or about the first day of May 1852 from the Grand Dutchy [sic] of Baden  that it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince  potentate  state or sovereignty and particularly to Frederick Grand Duke of Baden whereof he was formerly a subject. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 362, 7 Jan 1857]

This day came Henry Schirling an alien who appeared in Court and made the following deposition of his intention to become a citizen of the United States.  He came to the United States on or about the second day of July 1856 from the Kingdom of Prussia  that it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince  potentate  state or sovereignty and particularly to Frederick 4th King of Prussia whereof he was formerly a subject. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p . 362,  7 Jan 1857]

Michael Wurm an alien appeared in Court and made the following deposition of his intention to become a citizen of the United States  that he came to the United States on or about the 11th day of July 1853 from the Kingdom of Bavaria  that it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince  potentate  state or sovereignty and particularly to Maximilian 3rd King of Bavaria whereof he was formerly a subject. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 362,  7 Jan 1857]

This day came Benjamin Weille an alien who appeared in Court and made a deposition of his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He came to the United States on or about the 7th day of July 1854  and that bona fide his intention to become a citizen and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince  potentate state or sovereignty and particularly to Napoleon [faded out] of France whereof he was formerly a subject. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 373,  9 Jan 1857] Benjamin Weille produced a certificate showing that he had on the 9th of January 1857 in Livingston Circuit Court made declaration of his intention to become a citizen ... having produced evidence of his having resided in the U.S. five years at least and in this State one year at least and during that time he has behaved as a man of good moral character. [Livingston Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 685,  3 Jan 1860. Note: It does not state he was granted citizenship.]

Samuel Dryfus an alien appeared in Court and made a deposition of his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He came to the United States on or about the 18th of Nov 1852 from the Grand Duchy of Baden and bona fide his intention to become a citizen and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate state or sovereignty and particularly to Frederick Grand Duke of Baden whereof he was formerly a subject. [Livingston County Circuit Court Order Book O, p. 473, 7 Jan 1858]

Published 16 May 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/